Matt Houghton's Column

Johnny Lyall: The Ring Jumper

2010-02-24T17:31:00Z

Vancouver snowboarder Johnny Lyall's life changed last Friday, February 12^th, in a matter of 20 seconds or so: exactly how long it took him to jump through the Olympic rings at the Olympics opening ceremony and welcome the world to Vancouver to a global audience of millions.

Since that pivotal moment, everyone seems to want a piece of Johnny (or J-Bone, as he's known to his friends). He's been interviewed by dozens of media outlets from around the world, and has gone from low to high profile over night - literally. We caught up with Johnny for a beer at the Oakley "safe house" in Vancouver's Yaletown neighbourhood, where we sat down to talk about his big moment, and all of the hard work (and one pivotal coin toss) that went into it.

So how many of these have you done now?
Five or six a day... I'm starting to get good at it, I think. Or at least they're telling me I'm getting good at it! [laughs]

What are some of the media outlets you've spoken to?
The CTV, CBC, NBC... I did one for NBC online and they said they expected a million hits on it! And then E-Talk and some shows like that.

Tell me about how the whole thing started. I know it was you and Shin Campos and Kevin Sansalone, but how did that first phone call reach you to do this?
It was Karl Fuhre, from IS Eyewear, who told me about an audition for a commercial. I thought it was odd that only a few of us showed up to the audition; but they only wanted three people and Shin and Kevin and I got it. And then they told us what it was for and we were like, "Oh, shit!"

Wow...
They thought we'd say, "Yes, yes, yes!" But we were worried about how it would portray snowboarding, so they were surprised that we were reluctant at first.

You didn't want it to be kooky...
Exactly. We could've become the laughing stock of snowboarding! So they were surprised we almost said no. But the producer, David Atkins, really listened to what we said and let us consult on tons of things to make sure it was what we wanted, as much as possible.

We did the snowboard edit with me and Sans and Shin and David Aubry. We did that at Mike Wiegele's, and then they built a tabletop jump at Seventh Heaven on Blackcomb with me and Benji Ritchie to get more jump shots. And then we did another shoot on Whistler for the maple leaf part of the video. The also built a replica of the jump from BC Place in Whistler so we could practice on it. Initially they wanted us to land on an air bag, but it was lame... we didn't want to do that. There was no way.

THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette photo.

No kidding... there's not a lot of dignity in that kind of landing.
Yeah, right... so we changed that into a real landing, but it still took some work. And then once we had it set up and started to try it out, Sans got broke off when he caught his edge.

And the whole time, you couldn't talk about it.
We weren't allowed to say anything about it! People started to figure out a few things, but we didn't say much about it.

So it came down to you and Shin in the end?
Yes, once Kevin got hurt it was just us. And we'd been training on the jump every day for weeks, but all in secret. They didn't want anyone to know about it, so we were practicing every at GM Place when no one was there to see it. And it came down to the show producer saying he didn't know who to pick because we were both jumping and landing it so well, so did we want to flip a coin?

Damn!
Yeah, we had joked about that: that it would come down to the toss of a coin. It was intense. He [the producer] said he could pick one of us, but it would be arbitrary. So he flipped the coin and I won.

Canadian Press photo.

And that's history... how gripped were you when you dropped in?
So gripped! I was just focused on the air and the landing. And you have to ride on the stuff - the surface of the jump they used - a bit differently. So I was just thinking on the jump and not thinking about anything else... you can't think about the audience there at GM Place and on TV; you just can't swallow that pill. It's too much.

You nailed it. But if you fell it would've sucked! It would've have gone from the best moment to the worst moment.
I would've had to leave town! Where no one knew what snowboarding was... or the Olympics. It would've been brutal. I can't even imagine what that would've been like, and of course those thoughts went into my head. I did a bad jump at practice and I thought about it for 24 hours... so I am glad that it worked out and that it portrayed snowboarding well, and that the snowboard industry was stoked about it.

Well the video was really good... and you nailed the jump. It was blown away, to be honest.
It was done right, and we were stoked on it. I think people are looking at it as a milestone for snowboarding now. It was such an honour for me. And I've heard so many nice things... people saying they're proud of me and that I represented Canada. It's just so cool that I was attached to that.

What do you think it might lead to?
I don't know... I am just doing tons of media stuff. Everyone knows that someone jumped through the rings, but other than snowboard people, no one knows who I am. So doing all of the media will maybe help attach me to that. It might lead to things for me, but we'll see.

Maybe you can be hired to jump through things...
Yeah, I'll jump through hoops - literally! [laughs] That could be my new career. So much good stuff has come out of it already that I'm incredibly happy about it. So if this is it - and this is all that comes of it - that's fine with me.

Amateur video of Johnny's jump:
(Please visit the site to view this media)

----------------------------
Related:
Sansalone's Whitegold
8 Mile: A Life Worth Living
Inside Out: 8 Mile (video)

Olympic Snowboard Gallery

2010-02-19T23:30:00Z

The Winter Olympics arrive just once every four years. With the halfpipe and snowboard cross events now wrapped in Vancouver for the 2010 Games (and with two medals won for Canada and record results overall), we have a unique opportunity to witness how snowboarding has evolved and progressed within that period.

Consider this: in the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics, Shaun White earned his gold medal on the strength of his trick combo of back-to-back 1080's. This year, he won gold again, but with back-to-back double corks 1080's and his now famous double McTwist 1260. And Australia's Torah Bright showed how far women's snowboarding has come with her bad-ass backside 360 to switch backside 720 combo. While we didn't get to see her highly-anticipated version of the double cork, I suppose that just leaves something to look forward to in 2014 in Sochi, Russia, at the next Winter Olympics.

Let's not forget our snowboard cross medalists, either: With Maelle Ricker winning gold and Mike Robertson winning silver, the entire country got behind snowboarding in a big way. And kudos also go out to Justin Lamoureux, for finishing in 7th place in men's halfpipe (the highest ever result for a Canadian), and to Mercedes Nichol for finishing in 6th place in women's halfpipe.

Here's a selection of shots that document the 2010 Winter Olympics snowboard experience. The final snowboard events take place next week (on the 26th and 27th) when parallel giant slalom goes down for both men and women... and something tells me we haven't seen the last of Canada's snowboard medals.

Photo: Johnny Lyall opens the games. Canadian Press photo.

Click the gallery image to see all the photos.

Nash Lajeunesse Isn't Normal

2010-02-06T15:48:00Z

Alberta's Nash Lajeunesse is far from your typical sponsored shredder. With a DIY-attitude and an outlook on life that runs deeper than most, he's about more than stacking sponsor cheques and racking up podiums. He builds and maintains his own snowboard park, rarely watches TV, looks to Bob Marley for spiritual guidance, and - get this - splits his contest winnings with good friend Kael Hill.

And if that sounds too good to be true, consider this fact: last season, Nash filmed two video parts; one for Sandbox and another for Brother's Factory. So clearly the kid's got an outstanding work ethic on top of his other commendable values.

Since I'm always interested in speaking to riders who actually have something original to say (no offence to those who don't; we still have love for you), I was curious to get to know Nash a little better and gauge his opinion on a few things. Read on and get to know one of Canada's truly original snowboard characters.

All right, Nash... we're getting into peak season these days, and I don't mean the shitty MTV show. How's your winter been so far?
My winter has been a little different this year. I actually haven't been riding quite as much as I normally do, so it's allowed for me to keep a balanced lifestyle. So far most of my time has been spent at home around Calgary, riding COP, and out on the streets seeking out new spots. As for traveling, I went to BC to ride powder for a week and I just got home from doing a contest called the Stairs Masters in Quebec City.

Since I mentioned Peak Season, what do you think of it?
[laughs] I have seen, like, five minutes of Peak Season and that pretty much summed it up for me. I have hung around Whistler long enough to know what the drama scene is all about. Watching that stuff on television must be painful. I actually don't watch TV anymore.

What do you think about snowboarding getting onto mainstream audience TV shows like that?
That sort of television only gets aired because of people's reactions to it. It's hard for me to explain the situation in words, but basically people continue to watch it -- whether they claim to like it or not -- because comparing themselves with others helps them to redefine who they think they are. I don't think its good or bad for snowboarding... I don't think those sorts of shows will change anything when it comes time to ride down the hill.

I know you've got a pretty bad-ass personal park built up in your backyard. What's set up there right now?
The snowboard park is the exact same as last year. I haven't been living out at my dad's house as much this year, so I haven't changed anything yet.

Do you have a favourite feature?
My favourite jib in the park is this culvert -- corrugated tube -- which is propped up on these stacks of tires. But I also have this new 26-foot long down bar that I keep in the city. We took it from this construction site, and then welded supports on it so it stands free.

Do you ride it a lot? Has it helped you in the literal sense of the TF, in terms of "training" or learning new tricks?
I haven't been riding the park a lot this year, but I am going to start riding my rail in the city a lot more. I didn't really build the park to "train" on. I just wanted to make something unique to session with all the Calgary loc's.

Do you ever get kids who find it and just barge?
No, the park is out at my dad's house in Bragg Creek, which is an hour away from the city.

You shot two video parts last year, which is a lot of work for any rider. What was that like?
Yeah, last year was busy... the hardest part was getting together with the filmers, because Sandbox is west coast and Brothers Factory is east coast. It felt like I was flying back and forth all season long, and I don't even know how it all worked out because I started out the season with no money! Just taking it one step at a time proved successful and not stressful.

Are you going to just focus on just one this year?
Yeah, this year I'm focusing more on my part with Sandbox. I love both crews both so much, but its just more convenient spending my time out west. And it will be nice to have all my footy together.

I understand you and Kael Hill have a deal where you share all of your contest winnings? How'd that come about?
Yeah, last year we were traveling together and our motivations were similar, so it seemed to be the thing to do. Like if he was poor and was getting hungry, I'd help him out and vice-versa.

Who's come out on the better end of the deal so far?
I'd say we both ended up better off. Our original intent was to break some belief patterns about money that many of us hold tightly to. And I think it worked to a certain extent, but there are still some things I need to work on. Like, if you are afraid of spending money it makes it harder to obtain it. It's all about flow, hence the word "currency".

What would happen if you won a big chunk of money, like say, 10 g's? Would you honour the deal still?
Yeah, for sure... If I won a lot of money it would be easier for me too share it. Its times like now I have troubles sharing my money with my friends, because at some levels I think I fear being completely broke. But it really does feel better to be able to give money away without feeling like you're losing something. When you can truly let it go, you will have a void that will be filled again somehow.

OK, last question: What are your predictions for Olympics halfpipe? Who's going to win?
Shaun White. I was hoping for someone like Danny Davis or Kevin Pearce, but they're out now. Shaun White knows how to win contests.

------------------------
Related:
You Look Good - Banff Norquay Results
Found Footage: Nash, Kael Hill and More
Canada's Secret Training Facility

The Backcountry: No Medals Needed

2010-01-28T00:58:00Z

No matter how much hype the mass media may generate around snowboarding next month when the Olympics descend upon Vancouver, there's a tremendous irony that the real proving ground for snowboarding isn't a halfpipe, set of race gates, or boardercross course. It doesn't even have a chairlift. There's no direct price of admission, and there are no points to earn or medals awarded.

I'm speaking, of course, of the backcountry. It's a place so mythical that rider's treat it with a reverence and respect rarely found in most classrooms. It's where every hungry up-and-comer in search of recognition aspires to prove themselves, once they've maxed out their potential on park jumps and street rails. You might be able to land a 1080 in the park, but can you stomp one off a backcountry jump into a powder landing? That, my young friend, is when you join the big boy's club.

When non-snowboarders ask me how Canada's pro snowboarders rank in the world, I'm always quick to say that we have some of the best, with the caveat that these riders aren't exactly household names (no disrespect to our Olympic snowboarders, of course). Since Canada has such a vast and awesome array of backcountry terrain, it's where riders naturally aspire to document their snowboarding for videos, websites and magazines. So don't be surprised that Canada doesn't have an equivalency to Shaun White. The better question is, does America have an equivalency to Devun Walsh?

See what life outside of the u-ditch is like in our Backcountry Gallery.

Top 10 BC Ski Resorts: The Best Of The Best

2009-12-30T13:54:00Z

Regardless of where you live in Canada, there's no question British Columbia boasts the best and most diverse ski resorts in our great nation (no offence, Alberta). If you live a short drive away from one of these mountainous destinations, then lucky you. If you live far enough away that a visit requires a plane ticket and vacation time, then you'll want to pay extra attention to this list: with so many options to choose from, you might as well pick the resort that suits you best... not that you could go wrong with any of them, or even any of the resorts we didn't include.

And take note: this list isn't a ranking per se, but more a collection of our favourite ski resorts for the unique terrain, snow and experience they offer.

See our top 10 picks in the gallery.

Party Your Socks Off with Mikey Rencz

2009-12-21T21:23:00Z

One of the best aspects of snowboarding is the personalities that participate in it. Sure, there are more than a few middle-of-the-road types - who I won't mention by name - that could put you to sleep in 30 seconds. But aside from that boring minority, snowboarding attracts some seriously colourful characters. And one of the most colourful is, without a doubt, Mikey Rencz.

There's just something larger-than-life about Mikey; I can't help but feel like I'm never having as much fun as he is whenever I see him. Or that maybe I've misspent my life somehow, ‘cause whatever he's doing, it sure looks good. And how can I get a piece of it? Keep in mind there's nothing controversial or dramatic about Mikey; he's just good at having a good time, and making those around him want to have an equally good time... if that's even possible.

More importantly, Mikey's a really good snowboarder. The style he exudes off the hill is doubled on it, and he makes his long, lanky frame look surprisingly compact and graceful in the air. He's also earned veteran status in the Whistler backcountry, even though he still ranks among the younger pros out there, simply because he started out so young. I won't even get into all of that, "he was kind of Shaun White's rival when he was young" business, because none of that even matters anymore. Mikey's his own man now, and that's all you really need to know.

I caught up with Mikey in October when he was in Toronto for the annual snowboard show. We did a quick interview and had a few laughs, but time was tight. I wanted to catch up with him more, so with the Christmas holidays approaching, I dropped him a quick line so we could talk more.

So since it's the holiday season right now, fill me in on how the Rencz family likes to do it up for Christmas.
I am just headin' back to Alberta after this film trip to get festive. Christmas is pretty mellow for me; I just get together with all the fam' and kick it. Just straight-up family time, since I don't get to see them that often.

How about the Eight Mile guys: do you guys exchange gifts or do Secret Santa or anything like that? Or is it more about of a rave-around-the-Christmas-tree?
No, nothing really. One year we would party our socks off and put all our socks on the tree. That's it, though... it was filled with socks.

When you and I last caught up at the Toronto snowboard show in the fall, you'd had kind of a gong-show journey out and arrived late. Was that a rare situation? Do you normally have good luck or bad luck when you travel?
[laughs] Yeah, I actually don't have very bad luck with travel -- knock on wood. Burton just booked me on a later flight than I should have been on. Oh, actually it would have been fine but the cab driver took me to the wrong city, too. [laughs] I forgot about that part...

What's the single worst or strangest travel experience you've ever had?
One time I full-on got on the wrong plane. I was sitting there and this girl came up and was like, "you're in my seat." And I showed her my ticket and was like,
"no I'm not," and she told me, "Yeah, wrong plane!" It was really embarrassing! They had to stop the other plane and let me get on. It was in Chicago; that place is hectic.

BS 720.

In the debut issue of King Snow, Eric Greene really lays into you for your musical choices. What was your reaction when you read it the first time?
[laughs] That was fine... I knew he was gonna do that. I guess that's the reason for the column. I really don't care at all if someone doesn't like my music; it's probably better that way, actually. [laughs]

Do you think, out of fairness, we should get Eric to submit a play-list and you can comment on his picks? Because we can arrange that!
[laughs] Not unless he has any Gucci Mane. That's all I'm listening to right now.

I'm guessing not... OK, Whistler got seriously dumped on in November... It seemed like almost overnight, it was "game on" out there. Were you amped and ready for it when all that snow fell?
Man, that was amazing. I was actually in Alberta when the resort opened in Whistler, so I missed the first weekend. But I've never had an early season like this before. It has been insane.

Do you normally like to ease into the season a little bit, or are you comfortable with throwing some tricks almost right away?
I used to take a bit to get back into it every season, but this year I've felt strong and good-to-go since early on. I wasn't recovering from an injury all summer and fall too, so that helps.

Filming season is about to begin. Do you have some goals or a trick list or anything like that?
No, there isn't a trick list. It totally depends on what features you find, as to what tricks you can do. I definitely have some plans for this year... got to get some new shit goin' for sure! I have been more into doing tricks off of stuff that people wouldn't usually do, off of that certain cliff or whatever, so I've got to keep that going, and also get some of those doubles going!

Yeah, the doubles seem to becoming mandatory. Another hot snowboard topic these days is reverse camber... Burton's got a lot of them in their line. What's your take on it? Do you ride reverse camber boards, or do you prefer the traditional style?
I have this super sick board right now, and honestly, I am not really sure what the rocker type is called! It's kinda funky, but it's fuckin' ridiculous. It's called The Sherlock. It'll be out for 2011. Last year I was rockin' The Fix board, which was "party rocker" and it was sick, too. I'm backing it, but it's all personal preference, you know?

Are you picky with your gear in general?
I am not picky at all. But I pretty much ride the same shit all the time. I just like bigger and wider boards, so that's what I ride.

OK: Last question! If, right at this moment, you had to elect someone the Prime Minister of Snowboarding for Canada, who would it be and why?
Devun Walsh, ‘cause he is the official boss man and that is why.

-------------------------
Related:
Rencz, Reid, Sollors and Zurek Hit Toronto
8 Mile: A Life Worth Living
Video: A Look At 8 Mile

There's No Stopping Chris Rasman

2009-12-12T01:02:00Z

Sent on a diplomatic mission of sorts by Alterna Films to the Toronto Ski and Snowboard Show this fall, Chris Rasman made quite an impression: Due to a backflip gone wrong while site-seeing at the CN Tower, he spent the weekend sporting a truly gruesome-looking shiner. And no, he repeatedly had to explain, he didn't mouth off a bouncer at a party like so many other misbehaving, visiting pros from out of town. Quite the contrary: Rasman is as nice and polite as they come.

Upbeat and endlessly energetic, Rasman is the perfect interview subject: willing to talk and talk until your recorder's hard-drive fills up. Shit, he didn't even mind thoroughly explaining his shiner's origin for what had to have been the umpteenth time. Rasman teamed up with Gaetan Chanut for many filming days, and the combination of youthful exuberance and veteran experience obviously paid off, as both shredder's turned in some impressive footage.

Read on, and learn more about Rasman, his shiner, and shredding with Chanut.

I know you've told the story a million times, but I'm gonna have to get you to put it on record one more time.

For the record, in case you didn't know, I fall a lot, but not doing back flips. I'm a clown, a circus act. I love doing back flips off things. My team manager Nic Moore [Quiksilver] starts busting kickflips on his skate at the CN tower, getting photos of it. Me: man, that's totally Facebook-able, I need a back flip photo off this rail. I balanced myself on the railing, realized the roof was pretty low, so I did a really tiny one and opened up a bit early. The first things to hit were my toes and I slipped out, right to my left eyebrow. We were with a couple of girls that were recording it on their camera, so we got documentation of the whole thing, which is pretty good.

Of course there were girls there.

Because there were girls, I don't even know how bad the initial pain was because I sprung to my feet right away out of embarrassment, playing it off like it was no big deal. And then a while later a little lump started, and I started seeing some stars, so I started icing it right away. We saw the rest of the CN Tower, just hanging out. The girls wanted to see Peak Season (they're buddies with Dré), so they went to see the MTV After Show. I was gonna go, but I went back to the hotel, iced it, took a nap. When I woke up to go to the Alterna premiere, it was fine; little lump, kind of ugly, but pretty mellow, no discolouration. I took a shower, went to the premiere, and then it progressively started getting worse. By the time the movie started it was like a fucking golf ball. I'm on stage, tossing out stuff, and I think all the little kids were afraid of me. They're keeping their distance while we're tossing out product.

So how many times have you told the story since it happened?

I'd say 20, not even exaggerating. It gets to a point where random people walk by and ask me and it's "oh man, you don't even want to know." People just assume it's a fight right away. It doesn't really look like something you'd get doing a backflip off a railing.

It wasn't my first thought.

The cheap and quick thing is to say the CN Tower kicked my ass. Toronto 1, Rasman 0.

Filming with Alterna, who was your regular crew this winter?

What was cool about this winter is that I had a chance to session a bit with pretty much everyone from the Alterna crew. I went to Slovenia with Gaetan, so I got to know him really well. He's a guy that I've been watching since way back, like the Wildcat videos. If you didn't know, he's walking comedy. I don't think that people appreciate his personality enough.

Gary Chinuts...

Oh man, it's almost like none of the older movies did justice for what a character he is.

I was pretty stoked when I saw he was gonna be in the crew because I know he's got a lot of good riding in him.

That's the thing: it's cool riding with him. The guys were kind of making fun of us because it was like watching the older brother bossing around the younger. I was one of the rookies in the crew, and Gaetan has nearly ten years on me. We were hitting this big death gap, and I was packing down the in-run. I hike up to the top, going to side slip it, and he says "No, no...you're not going to side slip it. You're just going to put staircases in the in-run...that's stupid." Everybody just looks at each other, says "okay", not even questioning him. He's just got so much knowledge when it comes to snowboarding that you can't help but listen to him. Not once was I frustrated or mad with him because you see he knows what he's talking about; he's got everything dialed.

Filming in the backcountry is so different from the park. In the park, you're hitting the same jumps over and over again; you've got a memorization of how much airtime you got and how fast you need to initiate your spin. There are so many different types of backcountry jumps: cliffs, step-downs, big poppers, step-ups...and even the angle of the jump, if it's got a dip or a funny in-run. One of the hardest things is picking the right trick, and that's where Gaetan helped me out a couple times. Knowing that, I'd be like "what trick are you gonna try? I wanna do this." and he'd look at me and be like "that's stupid, the jump goes this way...you're not gonna do that. Try a frontside 3."

You take the information that all these different people know, and they all have different riding styles and opinions, you put it all together and take it in; that's what helps me grow as a rider.

Chris rides for Quiksilver, Drake/Northwave, Libtech, and Gnarcore.com.

--------------------------
Related:
In The Editing Room With Alterna Films
Alterna Elektro Premieres (video)
Inside Out: Private Alterna Shoot at Grouse (video)

Annie Boulanger: In A Category of Her Own

2009-12-04T21:48:00Z

If there's a so-called "It Girl" in snowboarding at the moment, there's no question "it" would be none other than Annie Boulanger. Thanks to a cover shot and an impressive part (shared with Marie-France Roy) in Absinthe's Neverland, plus plenty of play from her sponsors, Annie wound up atop the Transworld "Exposure Meter" this fall: something rarely accomplished, if ever, by a female rider.

But don't be fooled: Annie's been earning this success for years. When every other female pro was strong-armed into entering contests, Annie headed straight to the backcountry, where she learned to sled and shred in deep snow among all-male film crews. Her persistence paid off; not only for her, but for other female pros, who are now being encouraged to chase shots instead of podiums. This freedom didn't come easily, but the results are now obvious: when it comes to dropping cliffs and ripping lines, Annie's in a category all her own.

With the snow already piling up in record amounts in Annie's hometown of Whistler, BC, she's enjoying the rare freedom of riding without cameras before she starts another filming stint with the Absinthe crew this winter. I caught her between pow days to talk about the recent recognition she's received, plus any on-snow shenanigans that went down last season. Hey, you don't know if you don't ask, right?

At the moment you're on top of the Transworld Exposure Meter, which is an impressive accomplishment. You've had plenty of strong coverage over the years, but there seems to be something special happening this year. Why do you think that is?
Wow, good question.... I'm not sure. I didn't expect this. I'm really stoked, though, ‘cause I thought I had some good photos last year, but I didn't feel like I killed it. So I'll have to go with probably a combination of luck, good timing and hard work.

On that note, a lot of female pros can't seem to escape the contest circuit, even when they're also trying to film a part. Yet somehow you've been able to avoid contests for a long time now... Have you just been really persistent about that, or have you been fortunate to have the right support from your sponsors over the years?
Well, at first I still went to a few contests, but I really didn't want to be at them and so I didn't place well. Then I became very persistent with my sponsors and stuck to my idea of not competing. I was getting lots of calls from them demanding that I go to the Open and such. I can't say that they where very happy about my decision at first, but with time they became more supportive when they started to see photos and footage.

Speaking of sponsors, you were one of the first riders on the Nike program. People are fascinated with Nike, and I have no doubt you must get asked about them a lot... How stoked were you when you first got approached by them?
At first I was super stoked, but definitely a little scared 'cause they had failed before. As soon as the program started, we visited the offices and started designing boots with the Nike skateboarding guys and saw how much Nike respects athletes, I was so pumped. They're fun, with cool ideas, and they treat athletes like no one else out there. I had no idea it was going to be this cool. It's really awesome to have had the chance to be a part of it from the get-go.

FS 360.

Nike are so big compared to the even the biggest snowboard companies. What kind of unique opportunities come along with riding for them?
Going to a basketball game and meeting Michael Jordan! [laughs] No, not really, but I wish... I'd say the way they treat athletes for sure. They're also open to new ideas and doing things differently than others. It's fun to work with a company that has the budget to support new ideas and take risks. They have a big history of working with the greatest athlete, and I think they've been very successful because they've listened to them.

You've been living in Whistler for a long time... What do you think about the Olympics coming up soon? Are you stoked about it, or are you just planning to get out of town and avoid all the craziness?
I was never a supporter of having the Olympics come to Whistler. The less people around here, the better for us... If I didn't have to film, I'd probably go see a few events, but I'm going to get out of town as fast as possible.

What do you think of the recent trick developments in the pipe?
Wow... watching people ride pipe now-a-days is crazy. Guys and girls are pushing it and learning tricks so fast. It's crazy how much time they're spending in the pipe! I still prefer to see smaller tricks done big with sick style. Back threes in the pipe are my favourite tricks to watch.

Half cab.

Any predictions of who you think will win, both for women and men, at the Olympics? For women, who do you think is really pushing it in the pipe these days?
I think Torah [Bright] is killing it and doing creative runs. I also love to watch Gretchen [Bleiller] and Kjersti Buass. For the men, I'd love to see Danny Davis and Scotty Lago up there killing it.

Over the past few seasons, I know you've been having to "go it alone" in the backcountry a lot, in terms of having to be in crews with mainly guys. What difference did it make getting to ride with MFR last winter when you were filming?
It was super fun to have someone to relate to, and it's so fun to travel with her. She's super funny, and it really felt like going on a road trip with a buddy. It's so nice to hang out with a girl while traveling and riding. We feel like eating the same kind of food, and chilling a bit more then the guys.

Watching your Absinthe part, you could really sense an energy between you two... what was the average day like when you'd be out shredding and filming together?
Every day is different, but we're usually in a good mood and we laugh a lot. We'd generally try to find terrain that both of us would like to ride. Some days she'd really want to build a jump and I'd prefer hitting cliffs. So we'd push each other to get out of our comfort zone. Some days we'd both ride so bad, but we'd just laugh about it and remind ourselves that we're not in Iraq.

Annie in Absinthe's Neverland
(Please visit the site to view this media)

There must've been some moments of comedy that went on... any funny stories you can share?
This one jump we built... it was a massive cheese wedge, ‘cause Marie's jumps have to be perfect! We couldn't' land anything. Marie got to the bottom after her eighth attempt, totally discouraged, and says: "We should just be sluts!" And then Romain [De Marchi] puts on all of Marie's gear on -- board, beanie, jacket -- and said, "I'll get that shot for you." So he went up and did a sweet front seven with her gear on. It was awesome! Kind of one of those moments where you had to be there...

It's a lot of hard work filming for a part... What would you say your perfect winter day be when you don't have to film, and you can just go ride and do what you want and have fun?
A perfect day is one of those early season days when nobody is in town, and it just keeps dumping and dumping every day so we have a good base, and you can ride the trees all the way down to the valley. Those are the best days ever! I can never get over those; it's always the best part of my life right there. Just go up the hill and ride deep powder with a few friends...

Half cab drop.

Do you have any specific goals for the winter?
Do some nice fun lines, hit some cliffs and get some air time!

Lastly, tell us one thing that most people don't know about you.
Maybe there are some things that I don't want people to know... [laughs]

-----------------------------
Related:
The Award-Winning Marie-France Roy
Absinthe Returns With Neverland
Game On: How To Get Ready For Winter (with Annie Bolanger)

10 All-Time Destinations

2009-11-27T21:28:00Z

If you're going to dream, you might as well dream big. These destinations all have one thing in common: They've very far from ordinary. And more importantly, they combine two things: incredible, world-class snowboarding (and skiing, if you feel so inclined) like you've probably only dreamt of; and the kind of high-end, luxurious accommodation favoured by those with thick wallets and high-limit credit cards. But remember: dream big! And don't forget, with crafty budgeting and creative planning, some of these spots aren't as out of reach as you might think. So start clicking and find out which one fits your winter vacation fantasy the best.

With so many possibilities, Whistler Blackcomb is just one of our ultimate destinations.
Photo: Emmanuel Mendes dos Santos/www.coastphoto.co/Whistler Blackcomb

Click here to view the full gallery.

Equal Love From Oli Gagnon

2009-11-25T22:35:00Z

If you've paid any attention to snowboarders from Quebec in the last decade, then you've been exposed to the photography of Oli Gagnon. As much as Oli will downplay it, he's introduced a remarkable amount of French Canadian talent to the world. And once these riders have moved west and traded rail bangers for backcountry booters, Oli's shot them there, too.

Oli's first published photo was in Snowboard Canada: DCP doing a lipslide on a street rail. (Think about that: DCP on a rail! That easily elevates Oli to veteran status, since we rarely see DCP ride anything but deep pow these days.) Since then, he's become a staff photographer for Snowboarder and Method Mag. And did you know he also founded and publishes his own magazine? Yes, indeed. Once again proving his die-hard dedication to Quebec riders, Oli launched Slash Magazine, which he now runs with fellow riders Etienne Gilbert, Etienne Tremblay, and Pat Burns.

As you'll learn from reading this interview, Oli is man of strong opinions. And you'll also learn, once you click through his photo gallery, that he's one of the best snowboard photographers working today.

"In Alaska everything is giant, and it's the same for the pillows. This is Gigi just about to get gnarly on one of the biggest pillow line I've ever seen." - Oli Gagnon

You've been shooting for a while now, to the point where a lot of people would consider you a veteran. Do you look at yourself that way?
Definitely not! Actually, you just made me realize I've been shooting for 10 years... [laughs] I still kinda feel like I'm a rookie, to be honest. There are so many sick photographers out there that have been doing it for much longer than me... I'll be a veteran when I'm 40 or something. Right now I'm still young!

Who are the photographers in snowboarding that you looked up to when you were starting out? Is it strange to consider yourself to be in the same category as them now?
I looked up to dudes like Mark Gallup, Vincent Skoglund, Eric Berger and Jeff Curtes. But to be honest, I looked more to skateboarding photography. I started skateboarding way before I started shredding, and all my life I've been looking at skate mags, trying to emulate skate style in my snowboard photos... skateboarding is legit at all times, and all I want is snowboarding to be the same.

When it comes to shooting a great photo, or simply being out shooting, what would you say is the biggest thing you've learned over the years?
The most important thing is to communicate with the riders and figure out exactly what they are going to do, or what tricks they're going to do: This makes the biggest difference.

"We found this old abandoned truck right out of Whistler on the way up to Pemberton with a perfect flat rail on the roof. LNP did about 20 of those front boards for me until we got the right shot. Snowmobile tow-in's suck. Really." - Oli Gagnon

Do you have a favourite shot... and I mean out of your own photos, by the way!
The one that comes to my mind is a Wolle Nyvelt slash shot in Alaska that was a Billabong ad. But it's just too hard to pick one, really...

You've been responsible for breaking a lot of new riders from Quebec; to the point where you've consistently gone back to shoot in Quebec and even started a magazine. Do you feel a sense of responsibility that motivates you to do this?
First off, I am not really responsible for any of this... all I did was shoot some photos of them. Those guys build amazing video parts with next-level tech rail riding, and they are the only responsible for that. Quebec is my hometown, man. I just feel at home over there. And these guys are all my close friends, so yeah; I will go back there for life. If I have the option to go shoot with any big-shot rider or my Quebec homies, I'll go to Quebec for sure.

So how does shooting in the Whistler backcountry compare to shooting a rail in Quebec?
Shooting rails is easy. Seriously. The hardest work you might come across is shovelling some stairs. The backcountry is gnarly and every thing you do is so much work. And sometimes it doesn't even work out! You can go shoot a rail in shoes and jeans, but to even go shoot the smallest cliff you need a snowmobile, all the backcountry gear and an avalanche course. You can go shoot a rail with any rookies out there; it doesn't matter. When you go in the backcountry every hour counts, so you need to be with experienced riders who know what they're doing. Its two totally different worlds and I love them both equally.

Speaking of the magazine, tell me about starting Slash. What inspired you to do it?
I hope this doesn't sound bad or pretentious, but right now I am fed up with the snowboard magazines. I think they are all bad. Now-a-days when you pick up a snowboard mag, all you see in the editorial pages is shit about products and a bunch of random crap. I know that product sales are what make our industry healthy, but it's just getting annoying and boring. People will buy shit regardless, I think. Snowboarding is about the riders, period. I want to see interviews with riders and sick action. That's all I care about, really. I don't want to see your trip to freaking Kazakhstan if all you've got is a bunch of shitty photos. There are so many amazing shots that are just sitting around and not being used. It's retarded. At Slash I usually get the leftovers from all the photographers; stuff that none of the big US mags and Canadian mags are using. And its all super sick stuff! My goal is to just make a magazine that will be sick, legit action at all times, no bullshit, no milking it. A magazine by snowboarders, for snowboarders.

"Pat Moore is a mad man and he did about 30 of those frontside inverts on that gnarly skinny quarterpipe until I got this shot. I guess it was worth it, because Snowboarder used it for the cover of the Superpark issue three years ago." - Oli Gagnon

How much work is it, in comparison to just being a photographer?
It's a lot of work, but I have a good team with me; all core snowboarders, too: Etienne Tremblay, Etienne Gilbert and Pat Burns. I'm really busy in the winter shooting and traveling, but in the summer I usually don't have much going on, so this keeps me busy.

What have you learned from being an editor, and being behind the scenes at a magazine, that you didn't know when you were simply contributing to other magazines?
That there a lot of fake people out there that will be your friend just ‘cause you've got a snowboard mag going... it's funny.

OK, last question: What are you looking forward to this winter?
Shredding mad pow!

Click through the full gallery for more photos by Oli with his commentary.

-----------------------------
Related:
Methods: The Best Trick Ever!
Colin Adair: A Deep Decade
Joel Fraser: Photos and Fixations

Road Gaps: Taste The Fear

2009-11-12T02:44:00Z

Nothing tests a rider's courage and conviction quite like gaps. You're essentially "in" or "out"; there's no half-measure unless you want to come short, eat your knees and risk ending your season or worse. Simply standing at the drop-in point above a road gap has caused plenty of riders to soil their pants.

Park gaps are one thing, gaps over roads and cat-tracks are another. At that level, any rider is essentially emulating Evel Knievel and laying it all on the line. Sure, there are "small" road gaps, but when it comes to the real deal, any road gap commands respect. But think of the famous images frozen in our memories: The Mount Baker road gap, the Tosh gap in Whistler, and of course, the Jamie Lynn gap in Norway that resulted in one of the best snowboard magazine covers of all time (credit is due to photographer Jon Foster for capturing that one). Glory waits if you're willing to take the risk.

With winter about to spark off (Mount Baker opens tomorrow, and Whistler on Sunday), we thought we'd pay tribute to one of the gnarliest parts of snowboarding with this Road Gap photo gallery. Click on the image below to get started... just take a deep breath before you drop in.

Rencz, Reid, Sollors and Zurek Hit Toronto

2009-10-19T19:30:00Z

Every fall, instead of pursuing contest podiums and fresh landings, the Burton team goes travelling for a different purpose: to meet their fans. It's a long-running tradition for Burton, with a mix of riders maintaining a hectic Planes, Trains and Autombiles-esque schedule from one city to another in order to spread pre-season stoke at shops, parties and snowboard shows.

This past Saturday, a mini-squad of riders - including Mikey Rencz, Natasza Zurek, Mads Jonsson, Charles Reid and Mark Sollors - arrived at the annual Ski, Snowboard and Travel Show in Toronto. The customary autograph session was held at the Snowboard Canada booth, and then it was off to a screening of The B Movie before the evening culminated at the annual Snowboard Canada party at the Sound Academy. Keeping things in line were Burton's Liam Griffin, Susie Floros and team photographer Blotto, along with Lance Webb and his Ontario sales crew.

I managed to get a few minutes with the Canadians on the team while they took a much-need dinner break before they had to step on stage and introduce The B Movie. I interviewed each rider separately, but asked them all the same questions, to get a sense of how they perceived the tour experience and what they're planning for winter.

Matt, Mark and Mark's dinner getting cold.

What's the most important thing to bring on a premiere tour?
Mark Sollors: I think just keeping up your energy... so bring some energy! Kids come here to see the movie and the riders, and you might be six days in on a tour, but they're here to see you. It's like being a concert performer: you have to bring energy every night.

Mikey Rencz: I just always bring my computer. Other than that I just have my backpack and usually my skateboard. I try to roll light!

Charles Reid: That's a good question... I'd say shoes! [laughs] Clothes are important. I always travel with my computer.

Natasza Zurek: Snacks. It's always hurry, hurry, hurry... You get off the plane, go to the show, sign autographs. And if you don't get to eat, you'll be pretty grumpy when you sign autographs. And you know, you might scare the little kids away.

What's the strangest experience you've had signing autographs?
Mark Sollors: Honestly, not much... pretty average. I haven't signed that many before. [laughs] The closest I guess is signing someone's boobs. That's kind of strange, like, "you actually want me to do this?" You feel a bit used, you know? It's awkward! [laughs]

Mikey Rencz: I don't know... Signing boobs is funny. Sometimes the dudes ask you to do weird stuff... like signing dudes. [laughs] That's always strange.

Charles Reid: It just happened to me! A girl asked me if I was good at snowboarding... I thought that was a weird thing to ask me, since I was signing an autograph for her!

Natasza Zurek: Japan is prone for some weird things going on... people go really crazy. They'll get super drunk and then you wind up signing naked body parts. It's a unique experience!

Mikey and Matt, with Blotto getting the shot as well.

What's your favourite part of The B Movie?
Mark Sollors: I think the closing section... plus Nicolas Muller's section. He has two parts, with two songs, and it's basically him having the most fun of anyone in snowboarding. He's just doing hit runs in Alaska. I like that: he does some crazy shit, but he's also just having so much fun and it makes it fun to watch.

Mikey Rencz: I like Nicolas' back one to switch back five... I think that's the best shot of the year. I really like the pow riding in the video; Freddy [Kalbermatten] has a ton of good pow riding, and so does Nicolas. Jeremy Jones has a really awesome part; I was really psyched on that. It's unique and fun to watch.

Charles Reid: Nicolas Muller: the backside one to switch back five. He's my favourite rider.

Natasza Zurek: I like Freddy and Nicolas' parts. I just like seeing them doing what they do, and shredding together. It's cool to see their friendship on film and seeing how much fun they have riding together.

Which if your Burton teammates do you connect best with personally?
Mark Sollors: When you go on trips you find ways to bond with people... I love Mikey Rencz. He's amazing and has so much energy. And Mikkel Bang... [laughs] he's such a sweet kid and he's so good at snowboarding. I spent a month and a half with Charles Reid this summer and I don't think we got sick of each other once; it was so fun riding with him and pushing each other... or him pushing me, at least.

Mikey Rencz: I like hanging with Mads [Jonsson] and Freddy and Mikkel. Everyone's rad on the team... we all have common interests so it's easy to get along! [laughs]

Charles Reid: I like chilling with Mikkel and Mark. Mark and I spent a lot of time together this summer and had a good time. Keegan is really cool, too.

Natasza Zurek: I guess I'd have to say Susie [Fluros], the team manager. She's so cool, and we're into the same stuff.

Matt and Charles.

Which rider on the team would you not want to trade lives with?
Mark Sollors: [laughs] I don't know! Honestly? Every one of them is a professional snowboarder, travelling the world and getting paid to snowboard, so what's not to like? Everyone's got their own problems in life, but so what? Maybe Shaun [White], because he has so much pressure on him... or the guys who ride in AK because it can be so dangerous.

Mikey Rencz: Shaun is on his own level... I don't know if I'd want to do that. He's on such a gnarly level; like actor status. I'm not hating on it, but it's a heavy program he's on.

Charles Reid: I think Shaun's life is something I wouldn't want... He has a lot of pressure on him all the time, and can't just go wherever he wants.

Natasza Zurek: That's a really good question... I'll say Shaun, too. It's just an obvious choice; he's so bulldozed by fame and I wouldn't want any part of that. I wonder if he thrives on the pressure, though. I think he must.

If you could pick any song for a video part what would it be?
Mark Sollors: I have so many... I could never pick just one song. I've been on a crazy techno binge lately, but my moods for music change all the time. I just put in my suggestions, and then say, "whatever you guys want?"

Mikey Rencz: I get psyched on different songs every year. I've never had any one best song; or the songs I really like just wouldn't be good for a video part. I lucked out this year in the Transworld video and got Slim Thug for my part.

Natasza Zurek: It would probably be a Radiohead song; they're my favourite band. Or a classic ‘70s rock song.

Matt and Nat in the corner.

Do you have any goals for this winter?
Mark Sollors: Just have fun.

Mikey Rencz: Get away from the Olympics... I am looking forward to checking out new zones, because we'll kind of be forced to. I am just hoping for lots of snow. I've got my truck and I'll go wherever. Hopefully just continue to have a good time.

Charles Reid: I'm doing the World Cups to try and get into the Olympics. I'm doing the Opens and the Dew Tour. I just came from New Zealand last night, riding with the Canadian Team and doing a training camp. I'll try to shoot a little bit, too.

Natasza Zurek: I really want to do some split-boarding... I've never done it, but I really want to try it. I am getting Burton to make one for me. I just want to go to terrain that I can't get to on a snowmobile or a ski lift, and I know that in Whistler there's a ton of unexplored zones. I want to check it out. I figure that I have so much passion for it, I'll draw people in and they'll want to go with me. [laughs]

----------------------
Related:
8 Mile: A Life Worth Living (Mikey Rencz)
Mark Sollors and Mind Games
Contests Killed The Video Star: Toutant and Reid
Honest Answers From Natasza Zurek

Behind Out West with Dano Pendygrasse

2009-10-08T22:29:00Z

A 30^th anniversary is no joke: whether it's a happy marriage or simply surviving the often cruel business world for three decades, a celebration is obviously in order. But rather then a round of embarrassing speeches and a slice of ice-cream cake, Westbeach opted for a classier option when it hit the three-decade mark: commission Canadian photographer Dano Pendygrasse to assemble a commemorative book.

Out West: Snowboarding, Westbeach and a New Canadian Dream is the result. The 120-page soft-cover documents not just Westbeach's chapter in Canadian snowboard history, but documents Canadian snowboard history period. As Dano himself explains, "the goal was to talk about Westbeach's role in the growth of snowboarding, and they were smart enough not to put any limits on what I could cover in the process of doing so." The result is an often exhaustive look into snowboarding's Canadian roots and pivotal moments, and sometimes (but not always) connecting Westbeach to those moments.

Sean Coggins (designer) and Dano working at the Westbeach office a year ago.

Consider this: Westbeach founder Chip Wilson (who went on to launch the massively successful Lululemon brand and shops) sold his first piece of clothing, a pair of shorts, in Calgary in 1979. By the time his fledgling business morphed in Westbeach in 1987, it was not only Canada's first real snowboard outerwear company, but arguably the first in the world. The list of influential Canadians who rode for Westbeach at one time is massive. And where would the entire snowboard contest scene be today without the multi-faceted mayhem that was the Westbeach Classic?

As a long-time rider and snowboard writer/editor, I felt honoured to contribute some text to Out West, specifically about the Eastern Canada scene back in the early days. But the entire project fell onto Dano's shoulders, and there's no doubt it'll take a few massage sessions to work out the deep knots he earned putting this project together. With Out West now available to the public, and some well-deserved distance between himself and the creation of the book, I queried Dano about his overall experience and what he thinks of the finished product.

What was your first thought when you held a printed copy of Out West for the very first time?
Well, it was the culmination of a lot of research and a lot of work between a lot of people, so I found it really gratifying. It turned out very much the way I had hoped, so I was relieved. It gave me the same sort of feeling I used to get when we got an early copy of the magazine back, knowing that it was finished and that the world was about to see it. I think people are surprised when they see it because they're expecting some big hardcover coffee table book, but that's not at all what we wanted. The working title for me was "A guidebook to Canadian Snowboarding," and I always wanted it to be densely packed with info and photos, but portable enough that you can throw it in a laptop bag when you're going to work or heading away for the weekend. In that respect, it's perfect.

The finished product.

What about now that you've some time to absorb it and look at with better perspective?
There are little flaws here and there that bug me; mostly things that I could have or should have caught, but they are typical in publishing. That's why books have several additions, to fix the mistakes! I'm really proud of what we made, and I think it has a very distinct look and feel to it due in large part to Sean [Coggins'] design.

Let's go back to the origins of this project: Most people think of you as a photographer, obviously. How confident were you about being able to write a book when it was first proposed to you?
Very confident. Too confident, probably; it was harder than I thought. I was interested in writing before I was ever a photographer, and I've been published a lot over the years, so I knew I could write compelling words, the question in my mind of course was, can I write that many compelling words?

What did you learn from the process and how has it changed you as a writer now?
I learned to really define the goals of the project before you start to write. I over-researched this thing so badly... I have enough material to write a 500-page book, and there are so many people who were left out who deserve to be there. Take P.D. for instance, his stories should be in there and aren't. My interviews with Chip [Wilson] and Scott [Sibley] run somewhere around 25,000 words! I think I know more about Canadian snowboarding than just about anyone at this point. Having said that, the project is very "Dano-centric" and there are people from outside my circle of contact that just don't show up at all.

I also learned that my voice as a writer changes a lot depending on my mood; how distracted I am, and what is going on in my life. Keeping a consistent tone throughout is difficult when you write it over several months. You have to let certain things go and not obsess or you will be doing revisions forever. The thing you learn is that you can't really fake this shit. You can do it or you can't, and doing it means a lot of concentration, a lot of hours, and you can't really skimp on that. It's impossible to phone it in.

Berger's 1991 team shot.

Who did you look to for advice or guidance during those moments when another cup of coffee wouldn't solve a problem or dilemma you faced?
Well, you always ask your wife first right? My wife T. put up with a lot of headaches, because I'm maybe not the most pleasant guy to be around when I'm focused and trying to accomplish something. Like, I'll forget to eat until four in the afternoon because I'm just determined to finish a chapter or whatever. And inspiration strikes at different times, so I could be up all night if the words are flowing. Most people don't really roll that way or understand. I'm fairly obsessive. Also, Colin Whyte, who contributed a chapter to the book, has long been my mentor when it comes to anything about writing. He's the strongest writer in action sports by far and I'm lucky to have access to his brain. Kim Stravers was a great editor, too. She pulled things together, made the hard cuts that I couldn't, and made the whole book a lot more readable.

The project, while ostensibly about Westbeach, covers off a large amount of Canadian snowboard history. Was this the original goal, or did it become inevitable as the process went along?
When the guys from Westbeach first came to me, they talked about a brand book celebrating the 30-year anniversary. I think they were pretty open to ideas of how that would look and feel. At first I didn't really think there would be as much writing, and that we'd tell the story in pictures and captions. But as I started, I recognized that to tell the story at all, it was going to require a lot of background information. You can't talk about Canadian snowboard videos without talking about Whiskey and The Burning for instance, and you can't talk about influential Canadians without talking about Lofo, so the scope of the story started to grow very early on. We cut down a lot of what was originally on the table to keep it manageable. But to answer your question, the goal was to talk about Westbeach's role in the growth of snowboarding, and they were smart enough not to put any limits on what I could cover in the process of doing so. It all happened very organically and I wrote where the story took me. Some of the things I thought would be a big deal ended up not really being that interesting, so they were cut.

The hand painted westbeach sign on the old west 4th store.

Even though you lived through a lot of these moments, what are some of the most interesting stories you uncovered that were new to you?
Mostly the business aspects, which aren't really the crux of the story, so they aren't really the focus of the book. The book is a celebration of the brand, but make no mistake: we talk about the shit times, too. There are stories that aren't included because I don't think they appeal to most people who will read the book, but let's just say that the snowboard industry in the mid-to-late ‘90s was a gnarly place to make a living, and there are some ruthless, nasty people out there. As a young company without a lot of experience, Westbeach got taken advantage of by people without a vested interest in snowboarding, and it's taken them a long time to recover. As a young team rider, and then photographer, I wasn't really exposed to the business, and now that is far more interesting to me.

I lived a lot of the on snow stories, so they weren't new to me or particularly shocking, but I was still pretty young and I was partying a lot in those days, so it was very cool to see things through the lens of maturity.

How about the photos? There are some priceless old shots in there; what made you really and truly gasp when you first saw it?
Probably John Kami's picture of our old front porch from 1988 or '89; it transported me instantly back to a different world. A really good world. Also, Eric Berger's team shot from the Westbeach Classic in 1991 or so. The people in that photo are just amazing. There were shots in the Westbeach archive of Chip trying on the very first snowboard prototype outerwear, which was funny, and some personal snapshots that were funny or interesting. Chip gave me his old day-timers from back then and that was pretty insightful; seeing how his brain works a little.

Kami's porch shot.

There are some pretty questionable pieces of clothing from way back when in the book... Since you rode for Westbeach back in the day, what was the ugliest piece of clothing you wore? And what, if you could get it back, would you still wear today?
Oh, by far the worst thing I ever wore is the outfit I'm wearing in the author photo, in the inside back cover: Red, gold and green form head-to-toe. Who knew the Rasta colours could look so terrible? What would I wear today? Hmmm... I'm not sure. The fabrics today are just so much better than anything back then. Actually, you know what? That red sweatshirt with white lettering that [Todd] Bowman is wearing? I'd rock that today for sure. It was, and is, super sweet. There are things in the mix that actually are bang on for today's super colourful, full spectrum snowboard gear, though. These days I only wear black, though, so...

Lastly, if you tackled another project like this again, what would you do differently?
I would probably separate my research phase from my writing phase more. So that once everything is in place, then I can sequester myself off to some hole without internet distraction and write. It's hard to try to write while you're still selling photos, planning trips, doing interviews and planning a wedding! You have to put your foot down and say "research done" at some point and start writing. If you're amending the plan after you've started the writing, you can really throw a wrench into things and it can get very confusing.

Also, I would probably have to work with a partner. Between all the research, the photo editing, the mechanics of getting it to print, overseeing design and promoting, it's a lot to bite off. You know what I'd do the same? Work with Sean Coggins as a designer. Such a patient guy. Amazing. You'd never know that in his brain, black metal is melting the sky 24 hours a day.

My favourite shot from my Westbeach years, Berta in the "marlboro" ad. From the catalog.

Out West: Snowboarding, Westbeach and a New Canadian Dream is available now, directly from Westbeach. You can also preview the first chapter from the book here.

-------------------------
Related:
The Dano Portfolio
Jon Cartwright and the Westbeach Revival

Colin Adair: A Decade Deep

2009-10-01T18:53:00Z

It's hard for me to not get personal writing about Colin Adair. After all, we worked together as editor and photo editor of Snowboard Canada Magazine for eight years. It got to the point where we could practically finish each other's sentences. I'd often joke that I knew Colin better than some of my own family members, but I wasn't really joking: when you work that closely with someone, especially in a creative environment, that's simply what happens. Furthermore, we both departed the magazine at the same time: Me to launch Push.ca, and Colin to take on a staff photographer position with DC. Now, nearly two years later, it seems fitting to step back and shine a spotlight on Colin and his photography with the perspective I've gained in that time.

Colin was born in Peterborough, Ontario, but lived in Toronto and Montreal before moving to Vancouver in his 20's. He's been shooting for a decade now. I watched him work with the best photographers in snowboarding at SBC, and over that period a remarkable thing happened: he became one of them. Call it dedication and hard work, or the inside edge of being a photo editor; however you look it, the necessary ingredient is talent, and there's no disputing that Colin has plenty of it.

Colin takes his work seriously, but has an enviable ability to stay loose and laugh and appear like he doesn't have a care in the world. This drives me crazy! What's your secret, Colin? I honestly wish I knew, especially on those days when it feels like stress and pressure gets the best of me. Our friend Daryl "Trini" Trinidad likes to call Colin "Marty McFly" because he thinks Colin's "gone back in time" just like Michael J. Fox's character from Back To The Future, living the seemingly care-free lifestyle of a younger dude, but with the smarts and wisdom that only years of living can provide.

Regardless of how Colin comes by this characteristic, it serves him well, making him an in-demand photographer who's well-liked by riders, editors and marketing managers. Oh, and let's not forget the talent, but you'll see that for yourself when you click through his photo gallery. But first, keep scrolling south to read my questions and Colin's answers, which he provided when I pinned him down a day before he split for South America on a DC team trip.

Self Portrait, 2009.

Let's pretend that we don't know each other and didn't actually work together for eight years. Tell me about the "career path" you've taken to where you are now. One doesn't just wake up and become a team/staff photographer for DC, so give me a little timeline of your resume as a photographer.
I started out as a writer for Snowboard Canada Magazine. At the time I was shooting 16 mm film footage for various snowboard movie productions; just freelancing, trying to sell the footage to whoever would buy it... living the dream in Whistler. Two years before that, I had worked in film in Vancouver as a camera assistant trainee and learned a ton about lighting, lenses, photography, etcetera... It was a cool experience for sure, but in the end I wanted to be free and work for myself not other people, so I moved to Whistler and just started cold-calling riders I thought I could sell footage of. I had no idea how to shoot snowboarding, but there are so many hungry riders and if you have a camera it's pretty easy to get out on the mountain. This was a while ago though, so not everyone had a digi cam and called themselves a filmer. It was all film and it was expensive.

From there I got a few gigs shooting 16 mm for a year or so but it wasn't enough. I never got to see the footage ‘cause when you were done shooting you would hand over the film and if you were lucky you got to see a transfer or two. I needed more, so I started shooting photos as well because you could look at the slides afterward and learn from them. I enjoyed it a lot more, so I basically just switched over. Because I was already working with SBC it made it a more natural and easy progression. A few years after that, I somehow weaseled my way in the photo editor job.

At what point during this magical journey did you wake up and realize you could make somewhat of a legitimate living from your photography?
I think it was when I got a full-time job with SBC. I could see the path I was on and where I wanted to go with it. I remember shooting portraits with Kevin Young in Toronto one summer for his interview in SBC. I got to leave the office mid-day, cruise around downtown with him, smoked a joint in a park and I thought to myself, "Yeah, this is fucking cool. I could get used to this."

JP Walker, Whistler Backcountry, March 2008.
"Like I said, 2008 was a very good year. This is the very famous ‘Forum' stepdown jump. It has been shot to death and so many tricks have gone down it's ridiculous. I can't say for sure that this angle has never been shot before but I can almost certainly say it has never been published before. At the same time, JP stomped a backside 1080 tail which had never been done. I think I shot 3 or 4 ads, a cover and a bunch of editorial pages from shooting this jump that year." - Colin Adair

Nice! If you went back in time and told the young Colin Adair, who dreamt of being a pro shooter, that everything would work out in the future, what kind of advice would you give him to provide re-assurance?
Do your taxes, you idiot! Take some photography and lighting classes. Don't make excuses and shoot way more than you think you should! But other than that, I think he did a pretty good job.

Be honest with us: What kind of edge did being a photo editor give you in terms of developing your own photography?
I'm not gonna lie: it gave me a huge edge. I had the keys to the Canadian scene and knew what all the photographers were up to, so I could plan around it. I also saw tens of thousands of photos over my time as photo editor, so I learned more from looking at what everyone was doing than I did looking at my own work. At the same time though, I had to work non-stop on magazine stuff, so I didn't have as much time to work on my photography, so that slowed me down a bit. It was also a huge push for me to be the best I could because I was the photo editor, so my photos better be good if they are going to run.

As Frank Sinatra said, "Regrets, I've had a few..." Do you have any photography regrets, or is it better to not look back and dwell on them?
As a photo editor, at first I think I ran some really questionable stuff of my own, but as time went on I really tried to keep it tight and run only my very best shit. You take quite a bit of abuse being a photo editor who runs his own photos, and a lot of guys were jealous and pissed off when their stuff didn't run, but I think I was pretty fair overall. I tried really hard to stay true to my vision of snowboarding and what it is to me, so I really didn't want to compromise my own ideals in order to get a photo I think would sell, or shoot a photo that someone else wanted that I didn't like. Matt, I'm sure you can attest to me being lukewarm to certain ideas and trends I didn't agree with?

Yes, indeed... We had a more than a few discussions around what we did and didn't like, but I think that's what made us work well together and made the magazine better. On another topic, without naming names, unless you want to, what's the best and worst type of pro snowboarder to shoot photos with?
I never kiss and tell, but the list on both sides is endless. The best type of pro is first and foremost, talented, has a positive attitude, and is hard working and open-minded. The worst kinds are lazy, negative, and think they know everything. I can tell you that the top photographers these days won't give a negative, lazy pro the time of day no matter who they are. Photographers these days are often bigger stars than the riders, and they know they don't have to take any shit.

What's your ace, go-to camera set-up that never fails you and consistently delvers the banger shots?
My Canon SLR and my 70-200 mm lens. All time best set-up. You ask any snowboard photographer and they will almost always say the same thing. I've heard that lens called the "pay cheque" lens.

Chris Dufficy, North Vancouver, BC, October, 2008.
"Part of an ad shot for Celsius snowboard boots. I love shooting stuff like this. I shoot with Duff a lot and we usually never have a plan but then we start shooting and we get stuff like this." - Colin Adair

As someone who's travelled to a lot of places to shoot a lot of photos, what is the one place or situation that really blew your mind? And I don't mean "it was blue-bird and pow", but something that really stands out.
Oh shit! Paint me into a corner why don't you? It sounds spoiled, but there are so many. I spent an entire day just snowboarding at Mica Creek Heli with Gabe Langlois, Tyler Lepore, Rich Goodwin and Eric Berger a few years ago. We had all this extra heli time that we had pre-paid for and so we had to use it up before we left. The other riders were hurt, or just too burnt from riding all week, so they didn't want to shoot. Tyler had a bum ankle and he didn't want to shoot, so we just packed up the cameras and went heli-boarding. It was really insane. People pay 10 grand for that kind of thing and we were just lapping pow runs as fast as we could!

In spite of our youthful good looks, we're not getting any younger... How long do you see yourself staying out on the snow, chasing the Andrew Geeves of the world around?
Fuck man, good question! I remember when I first started I told a friend I wanted to use snowboarding as a stepping-stone to a career in photography, and I didn't want to be that 40 year-old guy still shooting with 18 year-olds. Well, that day has not come yet -- contrary to what you may have heard -- but it's creeping up and here I am. I didn't even start shooting photos until I was 25 so my "career" hasn't been very long considering the first five years were just trial-and-error. Lately I feel like I'm starting to hit my stride and my confidence is growing. The answer is, I really don't know. I'm still enjoying it more and more all the time. And now my role has changed a lot in a couple of ways. First, I'm a staff photographer for a really big company. I've starting branching out with DC, shooting motocross, events and hopefully some surfing soon. There's a huge amount of room for me to grow and move laterally. Maybe I'll be shooting Quiksilver catalogs in five years. Who knows?

The second thing is that I can really see these young riders growing up and I can help them develop as people, not just as snowboarders. That sounds cheesy as hell but it's true. Being a staff photographer I work with the same people all the time, so we really spend some quality time together -- sometimes too much time -- but in the end I learn as much from them as they do from me. I'm still loving it. When the day comes where I'm just bitter and over it and collecting a cheque, or if I have a family and want to be home more, then I'll disappear into something else or hopefully live off my super-rich future wife. In the meantime I want to make my mark on snowboarding and leave a lasting impression.

The state of media is pretty messed up right now... Do you think being published in print will always be the pinnacle of success for photographers? Do you worry about the future, in terms of where photography will go and what will happen to it?
It's definitely a really tough time, but I think it's kind of good in a way. I know I won't be getting as many photos published this year that's for sure. The mags are all really struggling right now. But it will bounce back. I think this period is going to weed out a lot of people who maybe weren't that into it but, were getting by. I really feel like its way to easy to take photos these days, and so too many people are getting into it. Darwinisn time.

The only thing I really worry about with photography is how the lines of what's acceptable are being blurred. It's up to us, the photographers, and especially the photo editors out there to keep the game honest. We're one small step away from the point where photos are so exaggerated from Photoshop that it will alienate the readers and people who buy the products. It sounds like paranoid alarmist rhetoric, but it really is true. As a photographer, do I stick to my vision and maybe become a dinosaur, or do I join the trend and sink the ship? That's the question I think a lot of photographers are asking themselves these days: "Where do I fit in?" The other big thing is usage. Everyone wants to use the images in more ways and pay less. With photography as a whole, there's no regulating body and rates are all over the place. It's weird and makes negotiating very painful. That will probably never change though. You've gotta work your way up and then idealistically you can charge whatever you want.

Lastly, do you still bring your snowboard with you when you shoot? Please tell me you're sneaking in a few pow runs when you're out there sledding...
Not every day, but definitely bring it a lot. I actually usually bring my NoBoard because I get so much more out of it now. If we do pow runs it's usually pretty mellow terrain and to snowboard it is fun, but NoBoarding it is way more challenging and new and fun. If the snow isn't that good, than I strap in and give the riders a laugh by trying shitty airs and crashing on my face, or sometimes I'll sit there all day scoping my line and go rip it for the boys: "Still got it!"

Check out nine more of Colin's shots in his portfolio gallery, along with his running commentary.

---------------------------------
Related:
Shooting With DC
Gone 'Til Movember
Coffee and Coors at Office Boyz 2009

Absinthe Returns With Neverland

2009-09-03T18:49:00Z

Last night's premier screening of Absinthe Films' Neverland marked the earliest snowboard video premier Toronto has seen since Forum came to town in the summer of ‘03 with Video Gangs. But thanks to the depressing weather we've had over the past few months (warning: do not get any Toronto residents started on this topic), local snowboarders are already psyched for winter, and the Absinthe gang's arrival simply accelerated everyone's enthusiasm.

Back at the Bloor Cinema for the second year in a row, Absinthe director Justin Hostynek arrived with filmer Shane Charlebois, plus riders Annie Boulanger, Marie-France Roy, and hot new jack Bode Merrill. With a giant Volcom-branded bus acting as a beacon out front, a large crowd was gathered on the sidewalk well before the theatre opened at 9 PM. After a 30-minute autograph session, Justin stepped to the stage with the riders to introduce Neverland and stoke the crowd with an obligatory product toss.

Tough times at the autograph session for Bode (right), when you're with two lovely ladies (MFR and Annie, left) and no one has seen your banger part yet.

Neverland opens to The Who's "Baba O'Reilly", offering a nod to skater Jamie Thomas' part in the classic Zero video, Misled Youth. With an opening section of Kevin Pierce, Eero Ettela and Nicholas Mueller shredding the shit out of a tree-infested backcountry zone, the momentum carries right through to a shared part with Yes teammates DCP, Romain DeMarchi and JP Solberg - all of whom make a confident statement that life does indeed exist after parting ways with Burton. Travis Rice has a predictably epic part, with a ridiculous intro of him riding a white horse (or should I say "steed'?) to the song "Head Honcho" (which you should recognize from the Andy Samberg movie Hot Rod).

Annie Boulanger and MFR share a part, all of which was shot in the backcountry. Annie's experience shines with some legitimately large cliff drops, while MFR seems to have no trouble transferring her park skills to pow booters; the two riders offer a genuine look into the next level for women in the backcountry. Capita's Dan Brisse hits some big-ass rails and stomps a particularly intense roof gap transfer (as seen in one of the early teasers), while Gigi Ruff takes us on a European train odyssey, stopping off at an alpine village literally buried in snow where he rides rooftops like they're park boxes. The truly banger ender, however, comes from the previously unknown Bode Merill. To earn the last part among so many talented riders is a statement unto itself, but the scale and diversity of his tricks warrants it. As cliché as it may sound, Bode is poised to be the next big thing.

After the credits rolled (which contained a surprising amount of A-grade footage), I sat down with Justin Hostynek to get an inside perspective on Neverland.

Justin and Matt, back of the theatre...alone.

So it seems like snow wasn't a problem this year...
No, snow was not a problem! We were really lucky. We played it totally different than we had in the past; usually we'd have a ton of people in Alaska for one to two months. This year we just had one group up there, and we were able to send our other crews to other places and they got it just as good - if not better - as the Alaska guys.

It looks like you put together one of your best videos in a year when budgets must've been a big challenge. Did it take some creativity?
It took heading in new directions instead of relying on the usual formula. We felt like we made the right choice by having people spread out. And Alaska wasn't that good this year anyway, so it worked out really well.

What's a premiere without a product toss?

It must've been nice to have Travis back in the video. And his intro was all-time.
Yes... He's insane. He's got his own brand of riding. And the intro was all his idea. The song idea came from Shane, our filmer. We thought, "How can we follow up his two-year project that set a new standard for snowboard videos?" So we figured humour was the way to go. It was so perfect; he thought it was hilarious and he came up with the horse scenario himself. The boots, the shirt, the hat... it all came from him.

As a Canadian I was stoked to see Annie and MFR with a solid two-part banger in there.
It was sick. For me, it was some of the most interesting women's riding I've ever seen. The whole formula for this movie was just to show the best shit; really cut down on the filler and show the bangers. We had so much good footage it could've been a yawner, so that's why the credits have such good shots! And putting the three Yes guys together forced us to cut some good footage to make it fit, but we felt like it was just the right way to do it.

Justin got creative for the board giveaway, looking for the most environmentally saavy movie-goer.

All of the Yes guys impressed me; I'd almost forgotten how good Romain is, especially.
Yeah, well he blew his knee two years ago, right at the end of the season, so last year he had a very mediocre year. But this year he ramped right up again, and I think he'll have an amazing season next year again. And this is the season we were waiting for with JP. We stuck with him for a lot of years, but he had three shoulder injuries, three years in a row. So it was a tough time for him, but he stuck with it and we could see his talent and unique style from the beginning, so this year was the pay-off for him and us.

And Bode Merrill... Wow. He got a lot of cheers here tonight for an unknown rider, considering he's not really known here yet.
He's not known anywhere but Salt Lake City yet! But that will change. He came out of nowhere; I'd never met him or even heard of him until six months ago. His sponsor asked us if we'd give him a chance, and we saw his drive and his skill and said, "Buddy, you're on." It's hammer after hammer from him; it's crazy. And he's the king of the F.T. [ed. - landing on the first try]. So many of the shots he got were tricks he landed on his first attempt, and that's very unusual. So I just see very big things in his future.

Like Mystery Science Theatre 3000, with less heckling and more rad.

Neverland teaser:
(Please visit the site to view this media)

------------------------------
Related:
Absinthe Hits Canada (Ready premiere)
The Award Winning Mare-France Roy